Instant Gratification
Page 55“I connect plenty. I’m connected to work. I’m connected to Spencer. I was connected with my mom.”
“Your mom is gone,” he said very gently, taking her hand when she whirled away. “Spencer is a man who by your own admissions is someone who doesn’t stick. And—”
“I’ve heard enough.”
“And,” he went on anyway, “work doesn’t count. So the question stands, Emma. How exactly are you connected right now?”
“You think you have me all figured out.” She yanked free. “But you don’t. You don’t know me.”
“I’m starting to know you plenty. I know, for instance, that you swim like a fish, that you’re insanely competitive, a crappy driver, and that you’re amused by people afraid of needles.”
She met his gaze. “That’s all superficial stuff.”
“I’d know more, but you’re pretty careful of yourself.”
“Yeah.” She let out a low breath and looked away. “I guess it’s hard to be insulted by the truth.”
“Look, I know you like challenges,” he said very quietly, stepping close again because he liked being close, lifting her face because he liked to see her eyes. “So here’s a big one for you.”
“I’m not making another bet. I keep losing.”
“You’ll win this one. Let me know you. Let me in.”
“Stone.”
“Try connecting, Emma, with me. Come on, what could it hurt? Unless, of course, you’re afraid.”
Her gaze hit his, inadvertently revealing to him the truth, that she wasn’t afraid of much, but she most definitely was of this.
“Is that it?” he pressed. “Did I find something the tough, badass New York doc fears?”
“Oh, you want to mock my fears now?” she asked, clearly trying to throw him off the track with her ironic tone. “Really?”
Willing to laugh at himself, he grinned. “Okay, but at least I know mine.”
She made a soft disparaging sound. “This is ridiculous.”
“Uh huh. Because you’re afraid.”
“Say that one more time, say it to my face and see what happens.”
“You’re afraid,” he taunted softly.
“You are impossible.”
“See? You’re getting to know me already.” He smiled when she laughed. “Come on, Emma. Give me a try.”
Staring up at him, she shook her head.
“You might like it. You might like me.”
“Awfully sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“Sometimes.” He was also smart enough to know when to back off and let a woman think. With a steady purpose, he leaned in and kissed her once, slowly, with just a hint of heat, and walked away.
He hoped like hell the gamble paid off.
Emma was still in an odd and conflicting state of arousal and confusion that night when Spencer got back, dropped off by TJ, not Stone, which she knew because she found herself pressing her face to the upstairs living room window to peek.
Give me a try, he’d said. Connect, with me.
And she’d scoffed. She didn’t need to give him a try, she didn’t need to give anyone a try. And connecting? Please. She was only here for a very limited time, and then she was going home, where things were great and nothing was missing from her life.
Nothing.
Except someone to connect with.
Damn him for pointing that out. Damn him for being right.
“Hi honey, I’m home!” Spencer came in the door and tossed down his backpack, opening his arms in great exaggeration for a welcome hug and kiss.
She lifted a brow. “I see a bear didn’t get you.”
“Nope. Miss me?” He was smiling, but it slowly faded, to be replaced by a questioning curiosity. “What’s that look on your face?”
“I don’t know. Nothing.”
“You have a mix of…I’m not sure if it’s a glow, or a temper.”
She covered her cheeks with her hands, knowing it was the damn closet. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“TJ told me about the truck and the ditch. You okay?”
“Completely fine.”
“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Emma, it’s me. The master of deception when it comes to feelings, remember?”
“Well then, I certainly wouldn’t want to burden you with mine.”
“Nice try.” He pulled off his sweatshirt and tossed it aside. “Look, we could do the whole dance around it thing, but I’m hungry and tired, and don’t have the patience.”
She laughed. “Honestly, it’s touching how into me you are.”
“I’ll drive all the way to South Shore and buy you that Thai if you tell me.”
She’d have done a whole hell of a lot more for Thai, so she caved like a cheap suitcase. “It’s Stone.”
“Ah. You still crushing on the big, bad boy of the mountain?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. How’s that for a straight answer?”
He tugged affectionately on a strand of her hair. “We’ve always been close.”
“No. Actually, we’ve remained such good friends because we aren’t too close, right?”
He lifted a shoulder in acknowledgment of that. “Fine. But one thing we have always been with each other, is honest. Brutally so.”